Trainer Wait Time 2023 - Knight Transportation

Hello everyone. I just passed the initial stages of orientation and I have chosen the 4-week OTR training route. I’m very excited because this will be my first CDL job. It is over two weeks now and I have yet to be assigned with a trainer. Is this a known industry issue? Should I keep waiting?

Hello Tommy!

I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but unfortunately this is an issue common to the industry. You didn't give us very many details, and that's fine. I'll just say there are some things you can do to speed things up.

Many times new trainees have listed characteristics they desire in their trainer. For example, you might request a "non smoker." The more preferences you require will always lengthen your wait. Perhaps you could relax some of your standards. You could offer to train at a different terminal. Sometimes that has immediate effects. You could be causing your own delays without realizing it.

Another thing about trucking and training is that you must be your own advocate. If you are home and waiting, you should call your contact person every other day (3 or 4 times per week) and remind them that you are anxious to get started. If a week goes by with no change, contact the terminal manager - get them involved too.

You must advocate for yourself in trucking. I still have to play this game to keep myself dispatched the way I like. It's just part of this competitive career.

What terminal are you at? What job are you planning to do? I am in Knight's flatbed division. Sometimes our new drivers will accept training in another division, such as dry-van. Then they can come over to flatbed, get some limited training in load securement and get started. It's not ideal, but it gets you rolling.

I'm just throwing out some ideas you might not have considered. Hopefully you can get started soon.

I asked for a non-smoker and I’m based out of the Katy Terminal doing dry-van. I’m very anxious and excited to start training. I appreciate your advice.

I work for night as well. My terminal manager had me wait for a specific trainer that she wanted me to train with. Im Glad she did as we got along great and the training really helped.

As OS said, being proactive helps. I would reach out to your DDM and terminal manager frequently. If they are having a hard time locating a trainer, offer to train out of another terminal, Dallas, El Paso and others may have a trainer available and they are relatively close.

Also as OS said, I have to be very self motivated and proactive to get my loads and dispatches to fit for me. I'm very polite about it but I stay in contact and have found being flexible helps grease the wheels.

Ultimately, if you aren't having any luck with getting a trainer out of Katy, you can try Phoenix and see if they can assist. I've found the TM at Katy to be very helpful and friendly to me. Same with Dalls and El Paso, but they can only help if they are made aware of your situation.